This is Titan with the NJ State Fire Marshall as one of several the dog that sniffed out accelerants as part of a demonstration on the street outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019.(Photo11: Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network)

An official agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' K-9 unit, Pilot is one of several dogs being used to seek out remnants of accelerants and explosives at the paper factory's ruins.

"The accelerant detection canines are a tool that's used to determine the origin and cause in fire investigations," said Christopher Taylor, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF's Newark Field Division. "Some of the detection canines go through months of training."

On Monday, local law enforcement turned the Marcal site over to the ATF, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Bergen County Sheriff's Office and the state Fire Marshall's Office. The K-9 Unit is part of the ATF's National Response Team that helps state, county and municipal law enforcement determine the cause and origin of fires and explosions.

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The trio of accelerant detection dogs, along with their handlers, that will be used to search for clues at the site of the Marcal fire. From left to right, Titan, Pilot and Bubba. Rodrigo Torrejon/NorthJersey.com

Bergen County Sheriff's Officer Les Lorenc rewards his dog Bubba with a tennis ball after the dog sniffed out an accelerant as part of a demonstration on the street outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network

Bergen County Sheriff's Officer Les Lorenc with his dog Bubba before he shows how his dog sniffs out possible accelerants as part of a demonstration on the street outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network

Outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network

The NJ State Fire Marshall outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network

NJ Fire Marshall Stephen Letts with his dog Titan who was one of several dogs that sniffed out accelerants as part of a demonstration on the street outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network

Outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network

NJ Fire Marshall Stephen Letts with his dog Titan who was one of several dogs that sniffed out accelerants as part of a demonstration on the street outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network

Bergen County Sheriff's Officer Les Lorenc rewards his dog Bubba with a tennis ball after the dog sniffed out an accelerant as part of a demonstration on the street outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network

This is Titan with the NJ State Fire Marshall as one of several the dog that sniffed out accelerants as part of a demonstration on the street outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network

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Dogs like Pilot are trained to sniff out accelerants from six different families of petroleum products, including household accelerants like kerosene, said Battaglia. The dogs can pinpoint accelerants to within an inches-wide radius, helping officers discover the origins of destructive fires, even amid tons of rubble.

"He can find a single drop in a football field," Battaglia said, looking at Pilot.

Fire sites like the Marcal ruins pose difficulties and risk harm to the detection dogs. The Marcal site is now dunes of brick and gnarled metal, littered with broken glass and sharp, splintered wood. In these cases, officers focus on suspected origin points and bring out debris to the dogs to sniff, Battaglia said.

Two other dogs, Bubba, from the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, and Titan, from the state Fire Marshall's Office, are also searching for clues as to the fire's origins.

Outside the gates of the devastated paper company. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the NJ State Fire Marshall and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office demonstrate how specially trained dogs sniff out possible accelerants and explosives that may have possibly been used at the site of the Marcal fire. The demonstration took place at the Marcal site on February 8, 2019.(Photo11: Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network)

The K-9 Unit is one of several federal resources the National Response Team provides to local law enforcement for fires and explosions of a certain scope, Taylor said. The team includes a cadre of fire investigators, explosives specialists and fire detection and electrical engineers, Taylor said.

As the investigation continues, questions loom over what caused the raging blaze, that burned so fiercely the heat could be felt by drivers on Route 80. A point of origin has yet to be determined, as 90 percent of the complex's footprint was incinerated, leaving not much more than a charred, blackened husk.

ATF officers were expected to finish their investigation within three days, Taylor said.

The nine-alarm blaze at the Market Street complex left the factory in ruins and 500 people without jobs, but nobody was injured, officials have said. On Friday, Taylor said investigators had not yet found evidence that the fire was suspicious.

Email: torrejon@northjersey.com

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